"BULLY" GAOLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1934, Page 9

"BULLY" GAOLED.

BOY ILL-TREATED. "THREW ME 100 TIMES." STORY OF A SIXPENCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HAWERA, this day. "The police allegation that Charlie Tonga is a bully is apparently justified, and apparently lie is a drunken bully, too," said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Hawera Police Court yesterday in sentencing Tonga to one month's imprisonment for assaulting Dick Pcnta, an eight-year-old Maori boy. Tonga pleaded not guilty.

Sergeant Henry said that the case might l>e one of aggravated assault, in view of the boy's age. On January when the bov was going a message, defendant caught hold _of the child, picked him up and let him drop. Tonga also kickcd the boy while he was on the ground and dropped him 011 to the ground several times.

The boy said that on the evening in question Tonga came along to where he was and pushed him into some tea-tree and boxthorn. While he was lying on the ground, Tonga picked him up and threw him down "100 times." Tonga threatened to break witness' jaw and actually did punch him on the nose. Tonga also tried to break his arm. \V itness later went with his father to Constable Pidgcon and a doctor. The bov denied pushing Tonga's boy into a dam or taking sixpence from him. Dr. W. M. Thomson detailed the boy's injuries, which, lie thought, could not have been caused by a fall.

giviiH* liis version of tho affair, said that 011 January 22 lie gave his boy sixpence. The boy returned honu dirty and told him that "Dick" had taken the sixpence and pushed him in a swamp. He had had only two drinks when he chased Dick, who fell over. He picked the boy up and spanked him, but did not kick or drop him. Defendant denied that he was the bully of Norma 11 by. Tll his cross-examination of Tonga, the sergeant produced a formidable list of convictions, including some arising from liquor, two for assault and one for obstructing the police. "I have warned Tonga before," said, the magistrate. "Now the only thing to do is to inflict a term of imprisonment."